How Much Does Mental Health Billing Cost?
The cost of outsourced mental health billing varies based on the size of the practice, services provided, payer mix, claim volume, scope of work and billing company.
There isn't one standard price that applies to every mental health practice.
Common pricing models include:
- Percentage of collections
- Flat monthly fee
- Per-claim fee
- Hybrid pricing
Percentage-Based Billing
Under a percentage-based model, the billing company charges a percentage of the insurance collections it manages.
For example, if a practice receives $50,000 in qualifying insurance collections during a month and the agreed billing rate is 4%, the billing fee would be:
$50,000 × 4% = $2,000
The exact definition of "collections" should be clearly stated in the service agreement.
Flat Monthly Billing
Some billing companies charge a fixed monthly amount.
For example:
> $1,500 per month
This can make budgeting predictable, but the practice should understand exactly what is included.
Per-Claim Pricing
Another model charges a fee for each claim submitted.
This can work for certain practices, but providers should consider what happens with:
- Rejections
- Denials
- Corrected claims
- Appeals
- A/R follow-up
- Patient balances
A low claim-submission fee doesn't necessarily represent the total cost of managing the revenue cycle.
What Should a Billing Fee Include?
Before choosing a billing company, ask for a clear description of the scope.
Questions can include:
- Is claim submission included?
- Is payment posting included?
- Is denial management included?
- Is A/R follow-up included?
- Is eligibility verification included?
- Is prior authorization included?
- Is credentialing included?
- Are reports included?
- Are corrected claims included?
- Are appeals included?
- Are patient statements included?
Don't Compare Billing Companies Based Only on Price
The cheapest billing service isn't necessarily the least expensive option for a practice.
The more important question is:
What does the practice receive for the fee?
A billing company that charges less but performs limited follow-up may leave the practice with substantial unpaid claims.
A higher fee may include more comprehensive revenue-cycle management.
The appropriate comparison is therefore:
Cost of service vs. scope of service vs. results and visibility.
Our Mental Health Billing Pricing
Mental Health Medical Billers uses a percentage-based billing model for qualifying full-service billing engagements.
Our standard billing fee is:
4% of insurance collections
with a $500 minimum monthly fee under the standard arrangement.
Credentialing is priced separately based on the payer and provider enrollment requirements.
Your actual service agreement will define exactly how fees are calculated and what services are included.
[View Our Pricing →]
[Request a Free Billing Assessment →]